Clothes-line reel.



J. H. MILLETT.

CLOTHES LINE REEL.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 19, 1910.

Patented Aug. 1, 1911.

2 SHEETSSHEBT 1.

awuwlio a James JZMz'llaZ J. H. MILLETT.

CLOTHES LINE REEL.

I APPLICATION FILED OUT. 19, 1910. 999,580 1 Patented Aug. 1,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JAMES H. MILL ETT, 0F FOXBURG, PENNSYLVANIA onornnsmmn REEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 19, 1910. Serial No. 587,936.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, JAMES-H. MILLETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Foxburg, in the county of Clarion and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Line Reels, of which-the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a clothes line reel and has for its primary object to provide a construction which can be readily attached in taut position and when not in use it may be drawn into the receiver to protect it from raln, snow, and sleet, the recelver belng pivotally mounted for swinging movement in w an arcuate direction, thereby permitting the line to be disposed at varying angles. a

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a clothes line reel in which a line may be held within or. drawn from a receiver, the latter being provided with a drawer for the reception of clothes pins, the said drawer being held locked to prevent the removel of the clothes pins by unscrupulous persons, also the line when drawn within the receiver is protected so as to obviate the loss thereof by theft.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a clothes line reel which is simple of construction, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation and lnexpensive in manufacture. v

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the hereunto appended claims.

In the drawings :Figu re l is a front elevation of a clothes line reel construction in 1 accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a top plan view with the hinged top partly broken away. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4: of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.'

Referring to the drawings. by numerals, the devic'e comprises a casing 6, which is preferably constructed from wood and may e of any desirable shape and suitably locked'to this casing 6 is a lid or cover 7 the latter being provided with a hand loop 8, whereby it may be raised and lowered to open and close the casing.

Secured to and depending from the bottom'of the casing 6 at opposite longitudinal side edges thereof are guide rails 9, the same being provided at their inner faces with guide grooves 10 in which are slidably fitted ribs or tongues 11 projecting laterally from the side walls of a drawer 12, the ribs or tongues being inset from the outer faces of the sides of the drawer so that the said side walls of the drawer will be flush with'the'side walls of the casing when the drawer is in-closed position. Thisdrawer 12 is designed to receive clothes pins or' other fasteners used in hanging clothes upon clothes lines. In the opposite end walls of the casing 6 are provided suitable' alining openings in which are fitted split bearings 13, the latter receiving the journaled end of a rotatable shaft 14: which for a'greater portionof its length is of squared formation in cross section. Upon the squared portion of the shaft is detachably fitted a reel or drum 15 the latter being held within the casing 6 by the said shaft and is adapted to rotate with the latter.

Opening through the bottom of the easing 6 and 'formed in the end walls are suitable vertical channels in which are detachably fitted the leg portions 16 of U-shaped staples or fastemings 17, the leg portions 16 being passed upwardly through suitable openings in the split bearingsv 13 and. are-- provided with threaded ends carrying the' Patented Aug. 1, 1 911.

of the casing 6 and also prevent any displacement of the said bearings laterally upon the shaft 14 journaled therein.

Formed in the front wall of the casing 6 is a central opening-19 through which is passed a clothes line 20, the same having one end fixed to the reel and is adapted to be wound and unwound therefrom for the drawing .in of the said line when not inuse and the letting out thereof for use.

Fixed to one end of the shaft-14 is a ratchet gear or wheel 21 with which is engaged a locking pawl 22 connected to one end wall of the casing by means of a pivot 23, the pawl being adapted to prevent the rotation of the shaft in one direction until the said pawl is disengaged from the ratchet wheel. To enable the turning of the shaft 14- there is provided a hand crank 24, the same being suitably fixed to one end of the shaft. Projecting rearwardly from the easing 6 is a vertical car 25, the latter containing a suitable bore extending longitudinally therethrough and is received between spaced horizontal cars 26 I projecting outwardly from a base plate 27, the latter being suitably secured to a post or upright 28. Detachably passed through the cars 26 and the bore of the car 25 is a pivot pin 29, which forms an axis for lateral swinging movement of the casing 6, thus enabling the line 20 to be stretched and held taut at varying angles for the hanging of clothes.

Fixed to one side wall of the drawer 12 in alincment with the pivot pin 29 is a perforated car 30, the latter being engaged by the said pin 29 so as to sustain the drawer in closed position, the pin 29 being provided with a perforation at its lower end for the attachment of a lock 31 which will prevent the withdrawal of the pin from its engagement with the ears on the casing and the base plate respectively.

It is evident that the shaft 14: and the reel 15 may be readily and easily detached from the casing when the occasion requires. Furthermore it will be noted that the pawl 22:

is engaged with the ratchet wheel 21 after the line has been pulled out of the casing 6 g and partially unwound from the reel 15, the said line being sustained in taut position.

The cover 7 at its free edge and centrally thereof has pivoted thereto one end of a link same being formed at its opposite end with an eye in which is engaged the pivot pin 29 when pivoting the cars 25 of the easing 6 between the ears 26 projecting outwardly from the base plate 27 secured to the upright orpost. This link 32 enables the lid or cover 7 to be locked in closed position simultaneously with the drawer 12 when the casing 6 is mounted upon the post. Thus in this manner access cannot be had to the interior of the casing 6 and the drawer 12 while the said casing 6 is mounted on the post. On the removal of the casing 6 from the post the said casing may be carried into the house for the storage thereof while not in use. However, prior to the mounting of the casing 6 upon the post the drawer is open and the required number of clothes-pins are removed therefrom for use so that the clothes-pins remaining within the drawer 12 cannot be stolen therefrom nor can access be had to the interior of the casing.

Having thus described the invention whatis claimed as new is 1. A clothes line reel-casing, a drawer slidably fitted in the casing, a supporting bracket having spaced parallel perforated bearing ears, a perforated projection on said casing and engageable between the bearing ears, whereby the perforation in the said projection will aline with the perforations in the ears, a hinged cover closing the top of said casing, a pivot pin passed through the alining perforations in the ears and projection for swingingly connecting the casing to the bracket, and means connected with the cover and d'awer, respectively, and en-- gaged by the pin for holding said cover and drawer in closed position.

2. A clothes line reel casing, a drawer slidably fitted in the casing, a supporting bracket having spaced parallel perforated bearing ears, a perforated projection on said casing and engageable between the bearing ears, whereby the perforation in the said projection will aline with the perforations in the ears, a hinged cover closing the top of said casing, a pivot pin passed through the a'lining perforations in the ears and pro jection for swingingly connecting the casing to the bracket, a perforated ear fixed to the drawer and engaged by the pivot pin, a link pivoted to the cover and having an eye terminal engaged by the pivot pin, and a lock engaged with the pivot pin for securing the link and perforated car on the drawer connected thereto.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. 

